Everton 1, Middlesbrough 1: Pick your man of the match

Yakubu, Cahill and Saha all spurned excellent opportunities and it was a relief when Yakubu bundled Arteta's free-kick past Ross Turnbull with his shoulder in the 64th minute.

Blues boss David Moyes had set his team up ambitiously, Yakubu recalled up front alongside a shaven-headed Saha, with Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini forming a very attack-minded central midfield unit flanked by Osman and Arteta.

The adventurous system started promisingly, a slick and incisive passing move threatening to carve Boro open, but when Osman's low, driven cross was cleared Everton were caught spectacularly short-handed on the counter-attack.

Downing made unchallenged progress down the left, switched the ball infield to Tuncay and he shuttled it to his right to the unmarked Gary O'Neil.

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The Boro midfielder was left with enough time and space to comfortably slot past Howard.

Everton perservered with their positive intent and had a glorious opportunity to equalise in the 12th minute.

Ironically the build-up was direct.

Yobo's clearance was headed on by Saha and Yakubu outpaced Pogatetz to run clean through on the exposed Turnbull.

The former Boro striker might have elected to skirt round Turnbull, but instead he tried to drill a shot under him and the goalkeeper blocked.

Everton created another opening, this time fortuitously, in the 21st minute.

Joleon Lescott's cross from the left deceived everybody, including the Boro goalkeeper, and bounced off the inside of the post. Fellaini connected with the rebound first from just six yards but Pogatetz blocked superbly.

Everton continued to pour forward, with Boro occasionally threatening on the break.

Jagielka headed over from an Arteta corner, Yakubu crumpled under a challenge from goalkeeper Turnbull but with the ball running into touch referee Howard Webb was uninterested in penalty appeals then Yobo planted a soaring header a foot over the crossbar.

In the minutes before half-time Everton's attacking flurries reached a climax. Osman's ferocious volley was blocked by the unwitting Riggott, then Cahill rose unmarked on the edge of the six yard box but planted a free header a foot wide.

The second half followed much the same pattern, Everton pressing relentlessly and Boro looking dangerous on the break.

Osman drilled a shot straight at Turnbull, Saha planted a swooping header a yard wide and then Digard conceded a free-kick on the left hand edge of his own penalty area.

From the set-piece Everton finally broke their duck.

Arteta curved a viciously swinging cross into the heart of the packed Boro box and Yakubu nudged the ball past Turnbull off his shoulder.

It was an unorthdox finish , but a welcome one - ending a personal drought which had endured back 11 matches and almost two months.

But just as Everton were breathing a sigh of relief, they almost found themselves trailing again.

Didier Digard curled an impressive shot from 20 yards which Howard touched onto the inside of a post and Jagielka lunged in to deflect the ball back into his keeper's grateful hands.

EVERTON (4-4-2): Howard, Neville, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Arteta, Fellaini, Osman (Pienaar 72), Cahill (Anichebe 85), Saha, Yakubu (Vaughan 88). Unused subs: Nash, Hibbert, Baines, Castillo.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-1-1): Turnbull, Hoyte, Taylor, Riggott (Wheater 51), Arca (Johnson 68), O'Neil, Pogatetz, Digard, Downing, Tuncay, Alves (Emnes 84). Unused subs: Jones, Franks, Grounds, Walker.

Referee: Howard Webb.

Bookings: Digard, Pogatetz.

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